Downtown location to house Purdue art gallery

July 12, 2012

Irwin Weiser, dean of Purdue's College of Liberal Arts, and President France A. Córdova discuss the benefits of a Purdue art gallery in downtown Lafayette. Córdova announced the Perrin Building will be home to the new community-based Purdue Galleries space. The painting in the background is a Diego Rivera from the Purdue fine art collection. (Purdue University photo/Mark Simons)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University will locate a new gallery in the heart of downtown Lafayette that will make a variety of art more accessible to the community.

The Perrin Building, 330 Main St., will serve as home to the new community-based Purdue Galleries space. The space is being leased by Purdue from building owner Mike Raisor.

"This new location offers so many opportunities for Purdue to give back to the community and partner even more actively with the local arts community," said university President France A. Córdova. "We want to be part of our vibrant local art community and support the community's efforts to invigorate the downtown."

Craig Martin is director of Purdue Galleries, which will oversee the new space, scheduled to open in the spring semester. He said that while visitors will see similarities to the Purdue galleries on campus, there would be a notable difference.

"Visitors will see the same kind of work from regional, national and international artists, along with touring exhibits and items from our permanent collection," Martin said. "However, we are looking for ways to be more interactive. We want people who visit to do more than look and leave; we want them to have an engaging experience that makes them want to return."

Irwin Weiser, the Justin S. Morrill Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, said the Main Street location would bring additional art opportunities to the downtown and enhance the university's presence in community life.

"We would like to do more with this gallery, given its location right on the square in the heart of the community," Weiser said. "To make that happen, we want to engage with Greater Lafayette residents so they can help us create something special."

Weiser said the Perrin Building offers a new venue for Purdue Galleries. On-campus galleries include the Robert L. Ringel Gallery, which will move from its current space in Purdue Memorial Union to Stewart Center, and the Patti and Rusty Rueff Galleries, located in Pao Hall.

Purdue Galleries is housed in the Patti and Rusty Rueff School of Visual and Performing Arts. Purdue Galleries' exhibits are made possible by the College of Liberal Arts and with assistance from Friends of the Galleries.